Fishhook tying fixture



June 24, 1952 u v o 2,601,605

FISHHOOK TYING FIXTURE Filed NOV. 17, 1950 2? INVENTOR. Bea/No 6. H11. we

Patented June 24, 1952' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

, My invention relates generally to fishing tackle and more particularly to a tool or fixture which facilitates tying a leader onto a small fish hook.

Stream hooks of a. size to be baited with salmon eggs or the like, are extremely difficult to attach to a leader because of the limited working space and the necessity for tying a small, firm knot. Furthermore, it is desirable to make the knot as inconspicuous as possible to avoid detection by wary game fish. It is common practice in the art to secure the leader to the hook by a knot which lies below the eye of the hook and is bent around the shank thereof. Thus, when the hook is properly baited, only the leader extends from the bait and is generally undetectable.

Prior practice has been to hand tie the hooks by working the leader into a proper knot around the body of the hook. The task is tedious, timeconsuming and requires a skilled touch. In an effort to reduce the amount of skilled labor involved, commercially tied leaders usually employ some type of slip or false knot. Such knots require the free end of the leader to be bound to the standing part in order to avoid slippage. A lacquer or cement is used to bind the leader end, and often this material flakes off under use, and the hook is lost at the crucial moment when the fish strikes.

Accordingly, it is a major object of my invention to provide a hook tying fixture which greatly facilitates attaching a leader to a fish hook in a firm knot.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a fixture which reduces the time necessary to tie the knot and insures a perfect knot.

Another object of my invention is to provide a safe and fool-proof fixture which holds the hook firmly and allows the knot to be tied without injury to the user or damage to the hook.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a portable fixture which may be utilized to tie different types of knots and will be advantageous in tying fishing flies.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a simple and sturdy fixture which may be economically maunfactured and sold at a nominal cost.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred form thereof, and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred formof my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partially in section of the fixture;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective detail of a leader and hook, with a knot set around the hook shank to secure the leader thereon;

Fig. 5 is a partial elevation showing the hook held in the fixture with a leader passed through the hook eye and fixture to position a standing portion of the leader parallel to the hook shank;

Fig. 6 is a partial elevation of the fixture and hook showing the leader coiled around the fixture and hook shank and passed through the gripper eye;

Fig. 7 is a partial elevation showing the fixture with the hook moved forwardly to pull the gripper eye rearwardly through the leader coils;

Fig. 8 is a partial elevation showing the hook and with the leader end pulled free of the knot; and

Fig. 9 is a partial elevation showing the knot tightened and slipped up against the hook eye.

In illustrating and describing a preferred embodiment of my invention, I have shown the steps of a tying operation necessary to complete a widely used knot known as a, Monkey knot. It is to be understood, however, that the tying of this knot is by way of illustration only, and that the fixture may be used in tying many different types of knots.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, a preferred form of fixture is designated by' the numeral Ill. A cylindrical handle ll forms the body of the device and carries a pair of forwardly extending grippers or spring blades I 2 and I3. The free ends of the blades l2 and I3 provide resilient jaws which are adapted to hold a fish hook therebetween so that the hook lies in a plane parallel to the. adjacent faces of the blades. Locking means, such as a collar [4, slidably mounted on the blades l2 and I 3 may be moved into position locking the blades against spreading.

As is best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the blades l2 and I 3 are relatively thin spring leaves mounted side by side within a socket l5 formed in the forward end of the handle II. The locking collar M has a rectangular axial slot' l6 which fits slidably over the blades [2 and I3 to allow movement of the collar therealong. After a hook is inserted between the end portions of the blades I2 and I3, the locking collar I4 is pushed forwardly to grip the sides of the blades. In order that the locking collar l4 may firmly clamp the blades [2 and IS, the forward portion of the blade 13 is bent away from the plane of the blade I2 and angled inwardly to form a triangular resilient detent ll,

as is best seen in Fig. 3. As the collar I4 is moved forwardly, the side walls of the slot I6 flatten the detent I'I inwardly and lock in firm frictional engagement around the blades I2 and I3, holding them against spreading, and at the sam time preventing the collar I I from slipping rearwardly.

To form ra gnide or holding means for the end portion of" the; leader,- transversely: aligned= notches I8 are cut into the bottom of the blades 10 I2 and I3 at a position spaced rearwardly from the tips of the blades. A forwardly projecting finger I9 is mounted in the collar I4 and is-aa'dapt ed to slide over the open edges of the notches I8 as is shown in the phantom outline-of Figr 2:

After the finger I9 has been rniw drforwar6.131", aI leader or strand passing through the notch I8 is thus prevented from downward movement; The finger I9 is preferably formed as a spring clip mounted'w-ithin the; slot:.I6.-'.below:j the blades v I2: 7

free end. ofrther. -leaderr26. through .the big-hts- 3 i Theq'locking collar I lsissmoyedgrearwardly as: is

and I3 so as to bear resiliently upwardly. Both. ends of i the: finger I 9rzare.-.fl'ared zlaterally adja:

cent the endwall's .oirthe; collarirIfli to lock; thefinger in proper position withinthe-collar:-

Nearthe tip-of the blade I2:'is,= an eyeifli whichis spaced-forwardly fromcthe notchesi Illsv and is adapted 1 to 1 receive the-terminal end? Of. the leader as-will later be descri-bed. The: hie-den I3 is made slightly: shorter: than thewb'ladeu I2; and has-a=tip-or terminal endsportion-II whichngo just coversthe eye 20 =and 1bears resiliently: ins wardly against a rounded tip 22 formed on the. blade I2. Thus, a leader= passed. through the eye 2 0 may be held-1 against: sliding movement i by the frictional engagement-between.thetips.35 2| and 22.

In order to' completely: understand the function of my invention, it is best described in conjunction" with--tying or -knotting:-of=- adeader: onto.

a fish hook.- An--il-lustraticn of---a:.desirableknoti for attaching -a hook 25' to a conventional line or leader 26 seen-in-- 4%- The hook- 25 has a shank on stem-- 2I- formed i with. asclosed eye -2B*a t Oneend thereof: The other-end of- 'th'e shank-11 is angled outwardly andrecurved= to i form a ;barbed-fluke -29=which engages the dish in a conventional'manner: The leader 26=- is tied around the shank 21 in the aforementioned Monkey knot andextends upward-1y. through the'eye 2mm be'secu-red-to-:the-= desired fishing 5D tackle: As-caxr he seemthe-knot is --tied--'completely upon -the-shank-21 and that portion 'of the leader -which-extenclmbeyond-the eye-28 1s: a single strand;- and is therefore'generally undetectable by thefish:

In Fig; 5 the hookyfifisshown held in position betweenthe gripper blades I2'- and I3 tocommence the, tying operation: The shank 21* is heldparallel ,to and slightlyrbelow' the blades"- I2 and I3withthehook-"eye-28projecting;forwardly and the,barbed fluke 2S spacedrear-- wardly from the blade tips 21* andfi22- and ashort ;.distance forwardly ---from=- the 7 notches I 8: The free end 'of the leader: 26 is -passed-rearwardly through v, the hook eyel 2B andthen-; through; thenotch" lflgto provide ra-worklng end i which extends upwardly; A short section ;of the leader 26"indicated at, 30 thus extends between the ,notch ISand the gh'oek eye=28 to-form a standing portion,v which 15," generally -paral1el-ito the, sh;ankf 2'|." The locking col-lar I 4 is moved forwardly to compress-the: blades- I2" and I3 firmly on; the hook; -2 5;'- and the--finger I 9 *covers the. notch" I8} and hclds-the leader-26 firmly therein;

The next step in the operation is to bend the leader 25 into coils or bights 31 around the shank of the hook 21 as is shown in Fig. 6. This may be done by rotating the handle II counterclockwise, and holding the end of the leader 26 forwardly so that the bights are clear of the barbed fluke 29 and pass over the tops of the blades I2 and I3. The bottom of the bights. 3|; encircles the standing section 36 as wellas the shank 21 to form closed loops'which are coiled forwardly in a generally helical shape. After three or more bights 3| have been takersthen end: of the leader 26 is pushed inwardly through the outside of the blade eye 26 and is passed forwardly. This is easily done, since; the, hook-N25,: has previously wedged the blades I2 and I3 open so that there is a slight spaceabetween the blade ends 2! and 22 through which the leader 26 may be passed.

Tn-complete {the knotyitjs necessarytopull, theseenJinrEig; 7 .to allow-spreading of the blades -I 2 and. I 3x so .that the-ihookr25- maybe pulled .forwa-rdly The fingerl la-nncoversrthe edges of the notches I8-.-so assto freeethe rearward bight'I-H' f or forward movement. As-the shook 2 5 is moved out-fromibetween-rthe bladesr lland I3, theportion .of the-leader. 26 passin-g. through :the eye 22' is clampedirictionally; between the blade-tips 2| and. 22 which-springtogether. continues;tdmoveaforwardlyy .theeblades I 2 f and I 3 are pulled'through -.the ab-ights -:3\I :to pass. the-- leader 26 rearwardly inraneinternalloop. 32; As

1118:1001)'32HISE'0Xt8nd6d, theebights-M are partially: tightened iand- {adjusted with: Ethfi fingers to coil neatly around the, shank 21 Therifreer ende of the:- leader' 2 6-. issthen pulled rearwardly zout'ottheibights-3.I ,as is-seen in Fig.

8. Aftenthisds-doneathevstanding portion 3B ispulled pforwardly -rthroughethehookreye 23:- so as to SliBgthBtkHOtr up firmlyi a ain thfirhooki y and tighten-the ibigl ts 3 I; The free; end of; the

leader; 6 issthen clipped ,Ofi; adjacent 1therearwardebight 31 1 and" E thee-leader: andnhook 2 5 are As tension is placed: on" the' ticular knotpl WiShEitZtO;bEeunderStOOd-i that the fixture may beiutilizedzin manyrsimilar. operations, and:ismot toeb'evlimitediby 'the'rvaforementioned descriptioma Likewise, many "changes oftdsign':

and construction will be :apparent .torthoseiskilledrin thegartnandfl rdcrnot wish torbe-rlimited "to :the

structure detailedahereinr; excepts as idefined: in:

theiappended -claimss I claim:

1. Al hook tying fixture: comprisingc handle means and a-grippermeans extending-forwardly from saidfih'andle means-and adaptect '='to hold ahook therein. said" gripper --"means having guide 1 notches spaced rearwardly from -thefree end thereofadapted'ito guide an -endportion of a' leader, whereby a standing part ofsaidileade'r mayhe heldin-position-while said'leader is bent around said shank and said gripper m'eans in Asthe: hook 25 coiled bights, said gripper means also having means spaced forwardly of said notches to receive the end of said leader for passing said end through said bights upon forward removal of said hook from said fixture.

2. A hook tying fixture comprising: handle means; gripper means extending forwardly from said handle means and adapted to hold a hook therein, said gripper means having guide notches spaced rearwardly from the free end thereof adapted to hold an end portion of a leader; and means associated with said gripper means to close the open side of said notches,- whereby a standing portion of said leader may be held in selected alignment while said leader is bent around said shank and said gripper means in coiled bights, said gripper means also having means spaced forwardly of said notches to receive the end of said leader for passing said end through said bights upon forward removal of said book from said fixture.

3. A hook tying fixture comprising: handle means; gripper means extending forwardly from said handle means and adapted to engage a hook placed therein; and locking means mounted on said gripper means for locking said gripper means in clamping engagement with said hook, said gripper means having guide notches spaced rearwardly from the free end thereof adapted to hold an end portion of a leader, whereby a standing portion of said leader may be held in position while said leader is bent around said shank and said gripper means in coiled bights, said gripper means also having eye means spacedforwardly of said notches to receive the end of said leader for passing said leader through said bights upon forward removal of said hook from said fixture.

4. A book tying fixture comprising: handle means; gripper means extending forwardly from said handle means and including jaws for holding a hook placed therebetween with the shank of said hook extending generally parallel to said jaws; locking means mounted on said gripper means for locking said jaws against spreading, said gripper means having aligned guide notches spaced rearwardly from the free ends of said jaws and adapted to hold an end portion of a leader; and means associated with said gripper means to close the open side of said notches whereby a standing portion of said leader may be held generally parallel to said shank while said leader is bent around said standing portion, shank and gripper jaws in coiled bights, said gripper jaws having eye means spaced forwardly of said notches to receive the end of said leader for passing said end through said bights upon forward removal of said hook from said fixture.

5. A hook tying fixture comprising: handle means; a pair of elongated gripper blades extending forwardly from said handle means, said blades being separable to hold a hook therebe-.

tween with the shank of said hook extending generally parallel to said blades; locking means slidably mounted on said blades for locking said blades against spreading, said blades having aligned guide notches spaced rearwardly from the free ends of said blades and adapted to hold an end portion of a leader; and slidable means associated with said blades and movable to a position closing the open side of said notches whereby a standing portion of said leader may be held generally parallel to said shank while said leader is bent around said standing portion, shank and gripper blades in coiled bights.

6. A hook tying fixture comprising: handle means; and a pair of elongated substantially parallel gripper blades extending outwardly from said handle means, said blades being resiliently separable to hold a hook therebetween with the shank of said hook extending generally parallel to said blades whereby an end portion of a leader may be bent around said shank and said gripper blades in coiled bights, one of said gripper blades having an eye in the outer end portion thereof to receive the end of said leader for passing said end through said bights upon forward removal of said hook from said fixture, and the other of said gripper blades having an outer end portion covering said eye and resiliently urged toward said one of said blades for clamping said leader between said blades upon the removal of said hook thereby to prevent said leader from moving through said eye.

7. A hook tying fixture comprising: a handle member; a pair of elongated gripper blades extending forwardly from said handle member, said blades being separable to hold a hook therebetween with the shank of said hook extending generally parallel to said blades; a locking collar slidably mountedon said blades and movable to a forward position locking said blades against spreading, said gripper blades having aligned guide notches spaced rearwardly from the free end of said blades and adapted to hold an end portion of a leader; and a member projecting from said locking collar and adapted to close the open side of said notches upon forward positioning of said collar, whereby a standing portion of said leader may be held generally parallel to said shank while said leader is bent around said standing portion, shank and blades in coiled bights, and one of said gripper blades having an eye spaced forwardly of said notches to receive the end of said leader for passing said end through said bights upon forward removal of said hook from said fixture.

8. A hook tying fixture comprising: a handle member; a pair of elongated gripper blades extending forwardly from said handle member, said blades being separable to hold a hook therebetween with the shank of said hook extending generally parallel to said blades; a locking collar slidably mounted on said blades and movable to a forward position locking said blades against spreading, said gripper blades having aligned guide notches spaced rearwardly from the free end of said blades and adapted to hold an end portion of a leader; a member projecting from said locking collar and adapted to close the open side of said notches upon forward positioning of said collar, whereby a standing portion of said leader may be held generally parallel to said shank while said leader is bent around said standing portion, shank and blades in coiled bights, one of said gripper blades having an eye spaced forwardly of said notches to receive the end of said leader for passing said end through said bights upon forward removal of said hook from said fixture, and the other of said gripper blades having a terminal end covering said eye and urged resiliently inward to clamp said leader nonslidably upon the removal of said hook.

9. A hook tying fixture comprising: a, cylindrical handle; a pair of resilient elongated blades fixed in said handle and extending forwardly in side-by-side relationship, said blades being separable to grasp a hook therebetween with the shank of said hook extending generally parallel to said blades, one of said blades having a detent portion spaced away from the plane of the other blade; a' lockingieollar slidablymounted 'on said blades andmovable to a" forward position over" said blade detentwherebyf to com-presssaid blades" a leader; and a spring clip secured iri said locking" collar b'elow"said'blades and having a forwardly extending finger bearing against the bottom edges of saidbla'des' and'adapted'tonclose the open sides *of said notches upon forward positioning 'oi"said'collar; whereby'a standing portionof said "le'ader' may be *held generallyparallel to-said shank while'said' leader'is'bent around said standingiportion'; shank and blades in coiled bights, one 'of' said grip'per blades having an eye spaced forwardly of said notches to receive the end 'of'said leader for passing saidend through said 'bi'ghts upon 'fo'rwardremoval of'said hook from said-fixture; and the other'of said gripper blades having a terminal end covering said 'eye and urged'resiliently inward to clamp said leader non'slid'ably upon the removal of said hook.

10. A'ho'ok tying ifikture comprising: ahandle; and a" pair' of T elongated substantially parallel gripper blades' -formed' as relatively thin'spring leaves having one'end' portion held non-rotatably withinwsai'd handle 'and the remaining portion extending forwardly therefrom; said blades being resilientlyiseparableto hold a hook therebetween" with the "shank'of "said hook extending generally parallel to' th'e longitudinal l axis of said blades and with"the""fiukeend of'said hook projecting outwardly from between said" blades whereby an end portion of Ta"leader'm'ay be' bent around said gripper' blades and "said shank" in coiled bights, one of saidblades having an 'eye'in the terminal end thereof to'reeeive'theend of said leader for :passing'saiden'd through said bi'gh'ts upon forward removal of said hook from said-fixture; and

7 whereby an end-"portion of a leader may be cent th'e'other of.-said'bladeszhaving atermin'al end coveringssaideyeiand urged resiliently inward to clamp said. leader "non-'slidabl'y upon the removal of said hoo'k whereby said flaights are tightened about said shank, the standing portion of saidleader, andthe'leader end passing therethrough to form a knottight'ening-upon itself under-tension on said leader:

11; A'hook'tyingfixture-comprising: a pair of elongated substantially parallel gripper bladesformed as'relatively: thin spring leaves-having one end portionheld' 'togetherand the remaining portion extending forwardly therefrom, said blades being!resilientlyseparable to holda hook therebetween withth shank'of'saidhook extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of'said blades and: with the fluke end of said hook p1o'' jeeting' outwardly from" between said blades around'said gripper iblades and said shank in coiled lbights, one of said blades having an eye in the termina'l'en'd thereof to'receive the end of saidla'der for passing said end through-said bights' 'uponforwar-d removal of said hook from said' fi'xture anditireothr of said blades having a. terminal erid coveringi"said eye'and urged re-= silientlyinward'to' clamp said leader non-slidably upon th'e'sremovalof said'hook'; and'a'member slidabl'yrnou'nted' on" saidblades and movable forwa'rdly'to the terminal ends thereof.

BRUNO 'FUL'VIO.

REFERENCES CITED The following' references are of reoord in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 347,858 Zimmerman Aug: 24, 1886 2-,-l0'7,64=5 Parkh'urst Feb: 8-, 1938 

